Piezoelectric effect
A piezoelectric substance is a crystalline mineral which responds to a mechanical force by generating an electric charge.
The substance may be considered as a lattice of electric dipoles, which together form a polarized field. When the field undergoes mechanical stress, the field changes its polarization, either through a physical reconfiguration of the dipole lattice or a re-orientation of the dipole moments under stress. This is the piezoelectric effect.
Piezoelectric material (1) before poling, (2) after poling. Adapted from source: http://www.physikinstrumente.com/tutorial/4_15.html
The piezoelectric effect is reciprocal, meaning: A) a piezoelectric substance will respond to a mechanical force by generating an electric charge, and; B) it will respond to an electric field by generating a mechanical response. This latter response is called the inverse piezoelectric effect.
The piezoelectric effect and its inverse are also proportional. The voltage generated by the piezoelectric effect is proportional to: A) the amount of force applied, and; B) the type of force applied (i.e. tension and compression produce opposite polarities). Likewise, the mechanical response of the inverse piezoelectric effect is proportional to: A) the field's strength, and; B) the field’s polarity.
The piezoelectric effect is passive, and requires no additional power other than the mechanical or electric stimulus.
Applications (Aleksi)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHp95e-CwWQ
Materials (Kiia)
Modeling (Mikko)